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(No Model.)

'"A. A. PARLAND.

HARP ATTACHMENT FOR BANJOS.

No. 584,467. Patented June 15, 1897.

ALFRED A. FARLAND,

PATE T EEICE.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HARP ATTACHMENT FOR BANJOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,467, dated June 15, 1897.

Application filed July 9, 1896. Serial No. 598,569. (No model.)

found throughout the several views.

The object of this invention is to provide an attachment for banjos whereby the character of the tone thereof may be changed whenever desired or the full or banjo tone to minor tones or tones similar to those of a harp.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in Which Figure 1 is a back View of a banjo provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3, and Fig. 4 an end view of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

In the drawings forming part of this specification I have shown an ordinary banjo, comprising a drum 5, a head (3, the usual neck 7, and the usual cross-brace S, and a binder or brace-rod 9, and in the practice of my inventionI mount above the cross-brace 8 and near the rear end thereof a bridge 10, which is flat on its upper side, as shown at 11, and passing from the neck end of the brace S to the rear end thereof are side cords 12, which pass through holes or openings 13 in the top of the bridge.

The bridge 10 consists of the horizontal top 11 and segmental side arms 14, which project downwardly therefrom and which are provided with downwardly-directed extensions 15, having notches or recesses 16 in their lower ends, and mounted between said extensions 15 is a vertical plug 17, which is supported by an elastic cord 18, which is passed beneath the extensions 15 and through the notches or recesses 16 and above said plug, and secured to the upper portion of the bridge, at the opposite sides thereof, are cords 19, which connect with a single cord 20, which passes downwardly through the tubular plug 17, around a roller 21, mounted in the bottom thereof, and which is carried diagonally across the drum, and over a pulley 22, mounted in a bracket and secured to a plate 21, which is secured to the inner side of the drum, is a plate 25, having an arm or projection 26, with which the cord 20 is connected, and the plate projects below the edge of the drum and is circular in form and provided with an outwardly-directed flange or rim 2".

The plate 25 is pivoted at 28, and in the normal position of the parts said plate is raised and the arm 26 thereof catches under the depending plate 29, secured to the bracket 23, and in this position of the parts the bridge 10 is supported out of contact with the head 6 of the banjo, the plug 7 presses against the upper side of the brace S, and the bridge being raised against the operation of the elastic cord 18 by the cord 20; but whenever it is de sired to change the tone of the instrument or to produce a minor tone or representation of the tone of a harp the arm 26 of the plate 25 is released from beneath the end of the plate 29 and the free end of said plate is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3, and in this position thereof the elastic cord 18 forces the bridge 10 upwardly into contact with thehead of the instrument, as shown in Fig. 2, and this position of the bridge muftles the sound or the tone thereof and produces the required change in said tone.

The bridge 10 constitutes in effect a muffler by which the desired change in the tone is produced, and my invention is not limited to the form thereof nor to the exact means herein described for operating the same, as it is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

The cords 12 serve to hold the upper portion of the bridge in proper relative position, as will be readily understood, and, as will be seen on an examination of Fig. 1, the bracerod 9 is broken away, so as to more clearly show the construction which constitutes the basis of this application.

It will be observed that the cord 20 passes through an angular opening 30, formed in the brace 8, and that the pulley 21 is immediately below said opening; but the pulley 21 is not absolutely essential and may be omitted, if desired, in which event the cord 20 will simply pass through said opening, and the operation will be the same as hereinbefore described.

Although the pulley 21 is not essential, I prefer to employ it, as it reduces the friction and facilitates the operation of the device, as hereinbefore described.

Having fully described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a banjo, of a vertically-movable bridge or muflier, which is supported above the cross-brace of the drum, and which is adapted to be held in contact with the head of the drum or to be supported below the same, said bridge or muffler being provided with a flat or horizontal top, and downwardl'y-directed arms between which is mounted a movable plug, and said arms be in g provided with an elastic cord which passes above said plug, and the base of the bridge or muflier being provided with a cord, which passes downwardly through said plug, and which is connected with a movable plate, which is pivotally secured to the side of the drum, and which operates in connection with means for holding the free end thereof, in a raised position whereby the bridge or muflier is allowed to rise, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a banjo provided with the usual cross-brace as 8, in which is formed a transverse opening, of a bridge or muffler above said opening, and consisting of a horizontal top provided with downwardlydirected arms between which is placed a plug, and an elastic cord which passes beneath said arms, and over said plug, the base of top bridge or muffler, being provided with a cord which passes upwardly through the plug, and over a roller mounted therein, and which is carried ontwardl y to one side of the drum, and passes beneath a suitably-supported roller, and connected with the arm of a verticallymovable plate, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of July, 1896.

ALFRED A. FARLAND.

\Vitnesses:

AUGUSTUS Anns'rnonc, CHARLES S. Rocnns. 

